𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 | ᴋᴜᴢᴜʀʏᴜ ꜰᴜʏᴜʜɪᴋᴏ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

~𝟏𝟒~

Hannah lay sprawled out on her bed, her eyes half-lidded as she scrolled aimlessly through her phone. The day had been long and draining, and now that school was over, all she wanted to do was unwind. But no matter how much she tried to distract herself, boredom seeped in like a stubborn shadow. The unfamiliar surroundings of the Kuzuryu manor didn't help. Even though the place was luxurious, it wasn't home, and Hannah couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider.

Just as she was about to let out a frustrated sigh, there was a light knock on the door. Hannah barely had time to react before it swung open, revealing a familiar face. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she shot up, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

"Riku!" she exclaimed, her voice full of excitement.

Riku stood in the doorway, his expression mirroring her surprise but tinged with amusement. He was dressed casually, his dark hair slightly tousled, giving him a relaxed and approachable look. He raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he took in the sight of his cousin's enthusiasm.

"I didn't realize you were staying here," Riku said, stepping into the room. His tone was light, but there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes as he glanced around at the room. "I thought you'd be back at your place."

Hannah swung her legs off the bed and stood up, still smiling as she moved closer to him. "Yeah well, my dad's on another business trip, and he didn't want me staying alone. So here I am, stuck in this place." she said, gesturing vaguely around her.

Riku nodded, leaning against the doorframe with a casual air. "Makes sense," he replied. "You know how protective Uncle Togami is, but I didn't expect to find you here. I actually stay over random nights at the Kuzuryu Manor, and luckily for you, tonight just happens to be one of those nights."

Hannah's eyes lit up even more. "Really? You're staying here too?" she asked, a mix of relief and excitement in her voice. The thought of having someone familiar around, especially Riku, was more comforting than she cared to admit.

"Yeah," Riku said with a nod. "I'll be around. At least for tonight. They've got me running some errands and stuff, checking in with the Kuzuryu guards. So it looks like we're both stuck here for now. But hey, at least it won't be as boring with you around." He gave her a playful nudge, and Hannah laughed, the tension she'd been feeling all day easing slightly.

Hannah crossed her arms, tilting her head at him with a teasing grin. "And here I was thinking you'd forgotten all about your favorite cousin." she joked.

"Forget you?" Riku scoffed, feigning offense. "Not a chance. Besides, I had to come make sure you weren't causing trouble for the Kuzuryus already."

Hannah rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face didn't falter. "Me? Cause trouble? Never." she said, her voice dripping with mock innocence.

Riku chuckled, shaking his head. "Sure, sure. Just try to stay out of Fuyuhiko's way, alright? I hear he's not in the best of moods these days."

Hannah's smile wavered slightly at the mention of Fuyuhiko, but she quickly masked it with another grin. "I can handle Fuyuhiko," she said confidently. "He's not as tough as he thinks."

Riku gave her a knowing look, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he pushed off the doorframe and gestured toward the hallway. "Come on, let's go grab something to eat. I'm starving, and I'm sure the Kuzuryus have some decent food around here."

Hannah's stomach rumbled at the suggestion, and she nodded eagerly. "Yeah, let's go." she agreed, following Riku out of the room.

As they walked down the hallway together, Hannah couldn't help but feel a little lighter. Having Riku around made the manor feel less intimidating, and for the first time since she arrived, she didn't feel quite so out of place. Maybe staying here wouldn't be so bad after all.

Hannah and Riku made their way down the grand staircase, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly against the polished wooden floor. The manor, despite its size, was strangely quiet, almost like it was holding its breath. As they entered the dining area, the scent of jasmine tea greeted them, warm and soothing.

Peko sat at the large oak table, her posture impossibly straight as always, a steaming cup of tea held delicately in her hands. She looked up as they entered, her expression calm and composed. Despite the aura of cool detachment she always carried, there was something soft in her eyes as she took in the sight of the two cousins.

"Good evening," Peko greeted them, her voice even. Her gaze shifted to Hannah, lingering for a moment as if searching for something beneath the surface. Hannah felt a flicker of unease but pushed it aside, forcing a smile in return. The conversation they'd had earlier that day at school played on Peko's mind, but she didn't mention it. Instead, she offered a polite nod, acknowledging both of their presences.

"Hey, Peko," Riku said casually, heading straight for the fridge. He rummaged around for a moment before pulling out two pot noodles. "Mind if we join you?" he asked over his shoulder as he grabbed a couple of forks from the nearby drawer.

Peko shook her head slightly, setting her cup of tea down. "Not at all," she replied. "Feel free."

Riku tossed one of the pot noodles to Hannah, who caught it easily. They both sat down at the table, Riku across from Peko and Hannah beside him. As Riku peeled back the lid of his pot noodle and started to prepare it, he glanced up at Peko, a curious look on his face.

"So, how's everything going with you guys?" he asked, making small talk as he poured hot water into his pot noodle. "Seems like there's a lot of tension around here lately. Fuyuhiko especially."

Peko's eyes flickered with something unreadable before she responded. "Fuyuhiko has been under a lot of stress. The clan's business is... demanding," she said carefully. She picked up her tea again, her fingers wrapping around the cup as if drawing strength from the warmth. "But it's nothing we can't handle."

Riku nodded, understanding the weight that came with being part of the clan. He glanced over at Hannah, noticing her silence. "You alright, Han?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Hannah forced a smile and nodded, tearing open the sauce packet for her noodles. "Yeah, I'm fine." she said quickly. The truth was, she still felt out of place, and Peko's earlier questioning about her smoking habit lingered in her mind. But she didn't want to burden Riku with her thoughts. Not now. "Just tired."

Riku looked like he was about to say something more, but Peko spoke up, directing her gaze toward Hannah. "You've adjusted well to being here, I hope?" Peko asked, her tone polite but with a hint of something more, like she was genuinely concerned.

Hannah shrugged, stirring her noodles. "It's fine," she said noncommittally. "It's different, but I'm managing." She didn't want to admit how much she missed her own home or how the manor, despite its grandeur, felt cold to her.

Peko nodded thoughtfully. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask," she offered, her voice softening slightly. "This place can be... overwhelming at times. It's important to know you're not alone here."

Hannah glanced at Peko, surprised by the sincerity in her words. She wasn't used to this side of Peko, who often seemed so distant and focused. "Thanks," Hannah mumbled, looking down at her food. It wasn't much, but it was nice to know that Peko cared, even if just a little.

Riku, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, leaned back in his chair, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, at least we've got food to keep us going," he said with a grin, lifting his pot noodle in a mock toast. "Here's to surviving another day in the Kuzuryu manor."

Peko's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smile, and even Hannah couldn't help but chuckle softly. Despite everything, moments like these made her feel a little more at ease. As they sat there, eating their noodles in the quiet of the manor, Hannah thought that maybe, just maybe, she could get used to this after all.